Interior Minister Juan Zapata expressed these worries during a press conference in the capital, Quito. These developments unfolded on a day marked by two car bombings in Quito, believed to be a response to ongoing efforts to reform Ecuador's troubled prison system.

President Guillermo Lasso addressed the situation, saying: "There are violent actions like that of the two cars burned in Quito last night, clearly that's a reaction to an action. The action of imposing order in the prisons, the reaction to intimidate."

Ecuador's prisons have become battlegrounds for drug trafficking gangs vying for power, with Los Lobos allegedly controlling the prisons in Latacunga, Cuenca, and Azogues. Violent clashes between Los Lobos and rival criminal groups have resulted in the deaths of over 430 inmates in Ecuadorian prisons since 2021.

In response to the escalating crisis, President Lasso declared a 60-day state of emergency for the entire penitentiary system on July 24, granting the authority to deploy the military to restore order.

Subsequently, a significant operation took place at the Andean Latacunga prison, where law enforcement sought to locate and seize weapons, ammunition, and explosives. Among the items confiscated were 49 bladed weapons, two bulletproof vests, ammunition, cash, alcohol, mobile communication devices, telephone chips, and micro SD cards.

Similar raids occurred in preceding weeks at the Guayas prison complex, where authorities discovered rifles, grenades, and grenade launchers, among other prohibited items.

The hostage situation in the Cuenca prison initially began as a protest against these interventions but later evolved to protest the transfer of inmates to other facilities.

Approximately 400 military personnel and 200 police officers are currently stationed outside the prison but have been unable to enter the premises since Wednesday, as tensions continue to escalate.

The situation remains fluid as authorities work to resolve the crisis and restore order in Ecuador's troubled prison system. (ILKHA)